Untitled 2022

This drawing was made by Alevtyna Kakhidze sometime in March of 2022, and it is drawn in a way that suggests immediacy and urgency. Kakhidze's marks are loose and searching, rendered in a palette of red, yellow, and black. The black is thick and opaque, while the red and yellow is thin and translucent, with the black areas standing out as areas of great focus. The drawing is direct and honest, speaking to a very real and current feeling. You can almost feel the artist making the drawing. Look at the watering can, its lines are wonky and unsure, but the tulips stand straight and proud. Note how Kakhidze emphasizes the black mark making in areas where there is writing, and how she uses this to reinforce the feeling in the image. It reminds me of Philip Guston's late work, especially how he approached the political in a cartoonish way. Ultimately, this piece is about processing current events through image making, and the questions that arise around this.